[In the news] WikiLeaks releases report on vigilantes in Cebu – www.sunstar.com.ph

WikiLeaks releases report on vigilantes in Cebu By Bernadette A. Parco and Elly T. Bolonos ARCHBISHOP Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal was vocal about his opposition to the summary killings of suspected criminals by “death squads,” according to a US Embassy cable released by WikiLeaks. In cable 05MANILA1774 titled “Latest Vigilante Killings in Cebu – No…

Human Rights Online Philippines

September 6, 2011

2–3 minutes

Cebu, Cebu City, Diplomatic cable, Philippine, Ricardo Vidal, Sun.Star Cebu, Tomas Osmeña, WikiLeaks

WikiLeaks releases report on vigilantes in Cebu
By Bernadette A. Parco and Elly T. Bolonos

ARCHBISHOP Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal was vocal about his opposition to the summary killings of suspected criminals by “death squads,” according to a US Embassy cable released by WikiLeaks.

In cable 05MANILA1774 titled “Latest Vigilante Killings in Cebu – No End in Sight,” Cardinal Vidal criticized Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and condemned the extrajudicial killings in the city.

“Cardinal Vidal has forcefully denounced the summary executions in his homilies and through the archdiocese’s newsletter, urging Cebuanos to reject the ‘culture of death,’” said former US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone Jr. in a memo.

The embassy memo, which was created on April 18, 2005 and was released on Aug. 30, 2011, stated that suspected vigilantes killed at least 41 people in a four-month period alone.

Incumbent Archbishop of Cebu Jose Palma shares the same sentiment as his predecessor.

“I support the statement of Cardinal Vidal,” Palma told Sun.Star Cebu.

“Suspects should be arrested and tried in court and just sentence be meted out. We denounce crime but also believe in the wheels of justice,” he added.

Ricciardone said Vidal, who retired from office in January this year, “admonished Osmeña and appealed to the new anti-crime unit to arrest suspects and not kill them, noting, ‘I cannot understand how we can terminate the lives of men without the just process we are used to.’”

In a separate interview, Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district) said he was never for summary killings.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2011/09/06/wikileaks-releases-report-vigilantes-cebu-177582